Propeller dolly



May s, 1945. E HOKNSON 2,375,363 PROPELLER DoLLY l Filgd Nov.` 4, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 May`8, 1945. I y E. c. HoKANsoN v 2,375,363

PROPELLER DOLLY Filed Nov. 4`, 1942 2 sheets-sheet n @WMM Patented Mays, 194s :UNITED STATES l PATENT ioFFicl-z A Evert C. Hokalolsmnan assigner to "Whiting ration ominu'is Application November 4, 1942, sel-u1 nu. 464,493

screens. (01,211.43)

.The ,presentinvention relates :to dollies. Mone particularly .the invention 'relates tto that .type of dolly which is `designed to carry orsupport airplane .propellers and :serves as. a medium for transporting the propellers thereon :frompiace to place. f

lOne object of the :innen-tiende tto proavi'le 1a :pmpeller :dolly which isV v`an..i1nprmfement npon, `and has 'certain advantages over, previously-:designed dolliesfor-the samepurpose and characterized toy `tine factthat fit `is* readily maneuveraihlei congested-spaces, acilitatesv :changing fprcxpeilers. on van iainplaine and provides sa seite `:aand easy means; for transporting pronellers :to @anim from storage racks ;or a service shop; y objectof 'ftheiinventoniisfto :provide .a propellerfdolly vof the type `:minder femisideratian which. comprises a wheel equipped :fnwmef having. a vstandzarrd thereon .ia-ndin additimn :fitting iembodying :a horizontal. part with theends thereof shaped te ft within :the fhubs :of .a pair of anni pellers and a depending vertical' 'part in :tele` scopic :relation with `the nupper end' :of the stand.-

ard. f f

propellerxdolly of the .lastfnrentinned :chazmciier in. which 7.iitting of the 1T 'varietyvand has an .upstanding. eye at the pnrtion or pointfof thev horizontal '.prcrpeller-suppentimgmart. i

so that'tmay be '.atztaehedfto'lra. fh'oistln-fconnection with mounting. andoremovm of the .respect to the etandamd `:on the 'wheel equipped iframe.

A 'further object, 'of` the invention. is .them-1o Vision ineonnection Witha dolly of the typemnd character under .consideration .of `releasallele means for locking .the fr iittingto @the .standard and'also means for -controllingnthe T :fitting 'during assembly or mounting thereof with .respect l to the :standard kso that .it faum'es :a

wherein 4vthehorizontal' 'part of .the extends transversely with respect to'the .wheel equipped frame. f

.Another lobject'of 'the invention .islto 'provide .a'

tures 'which ame `hereinafdier fset and more fpantieulamly defmedfby `ielniiirrs at the hor-ichbsion.hereof."v, ,Inrthegdmwings which accompany a. mart of :speidicaitinn or [disclosure vaand. ,in

numerals of; inference. denote icnnesponding .parte throughout the several viewer .Rime lise.. perspective of a, .dolly theinventlon;

'.iiiganre aside Viewl of 'the` Ldolflyshewing the manmerrinfmihich the removable ":r 'nttinz mitm.

frame standerderves as fa .propeller .Figure 3 smngenlarged Memticalxtmnsverse. sectiomtakerrnniine 3.-3 raffigura ZandshW- img the @design and onstmctimi. of' 4the pmpe'ller supptting and 'the :in/.winch the :depending vertical! pai-.t thereof uis `telescopicalzly Ito :the .end tof staend-` ard. y 4 is a vertical' longitudinal vsection y taken on` 'ilfine iI--dlof `Figure .warndy Ashoxaving indetail fthe releasazble means'ifor locking the T fitting `to.rstandn.rd and slso. themeans tot locating their fitting sothat f'itassumesa tmnsverseipi.. tion with respect-iso the frame Lwnen'itisf downwards in connectim with attachmentofthe ttingito thestimdsrdymd' l r1 is fan 1enlarged err-oss` section #onithe une 5- 5 of Figure 3. y

dolly` wh-ihy `is shown in ythe :drawings 'constitutes the preferred fon-nini'` embodiment of'ithe invention. Itis design-adito `carry for :support a paiirzo mirltibladednirplane propellersand comi-- Prises as its -mainnr Lprmcipalf :pa/itsfa three yWlfx'eellil-shaped member 1H! at the rear end of Athefinain member.. The front end of1fthe fra-meis isf-upl pomabyfs-smgieeimsitiefwheel il. PThis im .A stnifurtherebject :of the invention is tto pm..

vide :a propeller dolly which Ais fgenerallyiof-.neiw

and improved 1constnu'ction and consists lof; butva comparatively fsma'll :number .of parts `and :in

which compactness and :sinrpLi-citynfadesign `une combined with cheapness of construction durability.

'Other objects of r-the invention and the varian :axle im :and connected tothe 'frontend 4of .the main imeitudinali'y extending member E of .the framei by 'way sof an inverted U-shaped' bracket 13mm a spindle 11:4'. Thebreclcetaislpositimed in. istraddled mehti'on. lwith the lrciliriglsrle front :lilfamaihas the lower endsn the side pieces connected to theiendsuf :the mile t2. The epinyzilev :Il is. *connected to, fand projects j from, the icentral r'portion of fthe piece Loxfwthe bracket It? and fis :oumaled a ous. Jadvantages and` characteristics of the pres-A ent propeller dolly be 'appaarentsfrom a icon,

sideration. of the .'ifollowing'fdetaled. description.

The invention :consists iin .the vsetserial novel. ifea..-

cylindmical 'mismiding :bearing i :on 'the iront? embodying wheel to rotate or swivel about a vertical axis. In'order to permit the dolly to be pulled from place to place the frame is provided at the front end thereof with a pull rod i6. One end of this rod is disposed between, and pivotally connected to, the outer ends of apair of laterally spaced horizontally extending lugs l1 and the other end embodies a handle I8 for gripping purposes. The inner ends of the lugs arelxedly connected to the under side of the cross piece of the inverted U-shaped bracket I3.

and .the lugs I1 permit the pull rod to swing verltically. The two lugs I1 are arranged in parall5 lel relation with the front 'wheel'l I"and" so con-L nect the pull rod to the bracket "'I 3 that the wheel Il -may be swung or steered by sidewise manipu- The pivotal connection between said one end of the pull rod I6 lars 21 which are mounted on said inner portions of the ends of the part 24 and are adapted to receive the inner portions of the propeller hubs. The outer'extremities of the propeller supporting ends of the horizontal part 24 of the T fitting 8 have male screw threads 28 and these are adapted to receive nuts 29 for clamping the propeller hubs against the tapered collars 21. Each end of the part 24 is provided in the upper'portion thereof with a longitudinal keyway 30 for a key 3|. The

l two keys are adapted to fit; withinthe keyways in the propeller hubs and serve to prevent rotation lation of the pull rod. A brake 'I9 inlthefforin. of a strip of spring metal underlies the. lugs .|.1,

as shown in Figure l and has one end'theref suitably anchored-to theunder side of the cross piece of thebracketflS. The outer end: ofthe brake overlies the wheel Il and is adapted when depressed to grip the wheel frictionallyandto prevent rotation thereof Jaboutfits axle v.ILHN-The end of the pull.rod-that'islpivotally connected ofthe propellers when they are in place on the T tting 8. They are longitudinally aligned and are secured inplaceby means of screws 32. The

inner ends ofthe k'eys abut against the outer ends of the tapered collars 21 and serve to hold the collars in place against the annular shoulders 26. The outer ends of the keysV terminate inwardly of the male threads 28 on the outer extremities of the propeller supporting ends of the fitting Vpart 24. In connection with use ofthe dolly the nuts 29 are removed from the screwthreads 28 and the hubs .-of thel propellers are slid inwards onto the to the-lugs `I1.is provided-with a camvfrand this ed or otherwise xedly'secured tothevrearend VThe standard '1Y of thenony isngilyeonnctd ends of the part 24 until the inner ends thereof abut against the tapered collars 21. VDuring mounting of the propeller hubs on the ends of the part 24 the hubs are adjusted so that certainfof the' keyways therein are in position slidably to receive the keys 3l. into place the nuts 29 aremounted on the outer extremities of the part 24 so that they serve, ytogether with the tapered collars, to hold vthe propellers against axial displacement with respect to the horizontal part 24 of the fitting. The depending vertically extending part of the tting is disposed beneath the mid point ofthe part 24. VIt is shaped to t within the open top socket 23in the upper end of the standard 1 and has the upper endy thereof welded to the bottom of the central portion of the part 24. When the T tting is in its operative position it extends at to, and projects upwardly from, thecentralportion of thevmain longitudinally extendingmemr.

ber Q oftheframe 6. It is inthe form of apipe and extends vertically.' The upperend ofthe standard is-open and defines an-,opengtopver-v tically extending socket 23. VThe lower end of the standard is preferably welded to the subjacent portion of the main longitudinally v,extending member 9.of theframe 6. l

The T fitting 8 serves asthe'medium for,l cartending pari; 24 is..,cylindrical and has the ends 4 thereof ofreduced diameterand shaped `to fit; Annularr4 shoulders 26 are formed between the central por-V within the hubs of thev propellers.

tion of the horizontal-part 24-.of the ATlltting and the inner portions of `the .propeller support-r ing ends of `the part .2.4 and'these.shouldersform-z stops for a pair 'of-.tapered abutmentforming col- 75 right angles t0 the main horizontally extending member 9 of the frame 6, as shown in Figure l; In suchposition it serves to support the two propellers so that one is at one side of the main, member 9 and the other is at the other sidetof y; such member. The depending part 25 of theT fitting fits slidably within the socket 23 and hence the fitting, together with theA propellers thereon, may be lifted from the standard either in connection with use thereof or when it is desired to mount the fitting on a storage standard having a stand-r ard like the standard 1 ofthe dolly. A cross pin 33 extends across the upper end of vthestandard 1 and serves to limit 4downward movement ofthe tting part 25 in .the socket 23. This pin extends diametrically across the standard and is disposed in parallel relation with the main horizontally extending member 9 of the frame 6. The lower.

end of the depending vertically extending part 25 ofthe T. fitting is provided with a' pair. of VVdiametrically opposite notches 34 for receiving; the` pin. These notches extend at right angles to the horizontal part 24 of the tting and have flared lower ends so as to facilitate entry ofthe cross pin ,33 into the notches when the Tv fitting is. mounted on the standard.v The cross pin and notches prevent rotation of the T. fitting rela-v tively to the standard and in addition serve sotolocate the fitting thatl when the latter is mounted in place the horizontal'part 24: extends trans. `In order releasably .tov -lock the tting to the standard a bolt 35 is pro-` versely of the frame .16.

vided. .f This bolt, as shown'inFiguregis adapted After shift of the propellers asignan?,

ltof extend' through'. aligned lhol'esr ,36 the de- -pendiing 25- ofither-Tiiittirigrandithaupperxend @of'the 'standard 1 The rholesithe lstanidadi'are arranged? so- :that fwlhenz l )the A1'Jfitting `lis 1 .in .=l`ts` proper :assembled :position with? I-.respect -starrdardftheyfregistewith; the... holes. -inf' fthe ttlngiipartf. 1 When yitfisidesired to loclothieffit-` .ting "standaret ithe 4bolt i235 is 1 employed. itiswdesiredito release .therv fitting sothat itmayv be :removed: .fromztheiv standarde'athei bolt: 35

:is: :memoveili: "Thefbolt constitutes `simple means tonvreleasahly ,locking rthe .fitting to. .thestandard. In order to facilitate removal. of.fthet?|';t tingifrormthels'tandardithe central portion of the horizontally extending part 24 of the fitting is provided with an upstanding eye 3l. This eye is viixedly secured to the fitting part 24 and permits an overhead hoist to be vapplied to the fitting.`

When the tting is free as the result of removal of the bolt 35, the eye may be used in connection with removal of the fitting and any propellers thereon from the standard, and when the fitting is locked to the standard by the bolt the eye may be utilized in conjunction with' a hoist to move the entire dolly from place to place.

In addition to the aforementioned parts the dolly comprises a circular pan 38 on the lower portion of the standard l. 'Ihis pan has a central hole through which the standard extends and is welded or otherwise xedly secured in place. It is adapted to catch any oil that may drip from the propeller hubs and has a drain hole 39 which is normally closed-by a screw plug 40. As shown in Figure 3, the diameter of the pan is greater than the length of the horizontal part 24 ofthe T fitting and hence the side portions of the panA project outwards of the propeller hubs and serve to protect the hubs. The pan functions not only as a medium for catching oil and protecting thel propellers but also as a support on which the nose the4stamdaxfd 1;@alnwadditionlto. neanymaneuverf- .ability'zthez 'dolly is'r characterised by vifWhereas propeller supporting. inritcompris.T

ingamehamenstandard'andlitting has heenide .scribedy as; talidolly it is :to -ibe understood it f maya-be 'usedzwithout wheelsaas4 a work` stand; It isflalsoetof.beiunderstoodzthat theeinventiornis not to berestrictedz'to the.- details. seti forth since.: these maybamodiediwithintm scope ofthe appended from the standard and atright angles to the t frame, shaped to receive and support the hubs of a pair of airplane propellers, and provided on the inner portions thereof with outwardly tapered abutment-forming members for receiving the inner portions ofthe propeller hubs and at their outer extremities with male screw threads, and nuts mounted on the screw threads and serving when tightened while the propellers are in place on the ends of said'horizontally extending part to clamp the propeller hubs against said `mem-- bers.

2. A` unit adapted to support an airplane propeller and comprising a base frame with a stand- I ard thereon, a removable tting at the upper end of the standard embodying a horizontal cantiler ver-type part shaped to receive the hub of the propieces of the propeller hubs may be placed when the propellers are supported on the T fitting 8.

When it is desired to use the dolly the nuts 29 are removed and the propellers are mounted on the ends of the horizontally extending part 24 of the T iitting as hereinbefore described. While the propellers are .mounted in place on the T fitting they may be transported from place to place by pulling the dolly by way of the pull rod I6. When the pull rod is to be used for dolly pulling purposes it is swung forwards and this releases the brake I9. to its destination the pull rod is swung upwards in an out of the way position and this automatically effects application of the brake I9 and locking of the dolly against movement. In the event that it is desired to remove the propellers from the dolly while they are in connected relation with the T fitting 8 the bolt 35 is removed and the operative end of a hoist is applied to the eye 31, Thereafter the hoist is actuated so as to lift the T iitting from the standard l on the frame 6. When the propellers are mounted on the dolly they are held against rotation relatively to the T fitting by the keys'3l and are held against turning bodily relatively to the standard by the cross pin 33.

The herein described propeller dolly consists of but a ycomparatively small number of parts and hence may be manufactured or produced at a low cost. It is readily maneuverabley in congested spaces and provides safe and `easy means for transporting propellersv from place to place. Due to the construction and design of the T fitting 8 vthe propellers may be removed as a unit from When the dolly is pulled peller and provided on the innerportion thereof with an outwardly tapered abutment for receiving the inner portion of the propeller'hub and at its outer extremity with releasable means for clamping the propeller hub aginst said abutment, and also embodying a vertical depending part connected telescopically to the standard, and releasable means for locking the fitting to the standard.

3. A dolly designed to support a pair of airplane propellers and comprising a wheel equipped base frame with a standard thereon, a removable fit- I ting positioned normally on the upper. end of the standard andy embodying an .elongated horizontally extending part having the ends thereof shaped to receive the hubs of the propellers and provided on the inner portions thereof with outwardly tapered abutment forming members fory bodying a vertically extending part connected to,

and depending from, the centralportion of the horizontally extending part and connected telescopically to -said upper end of the standard, and releasable means for locking the fitting to the I standard.

4. A unit designed to s upport a pair of airplane propellers and comprising an elongated horizontal frame, a standard connectedto, and projectying upwards from, the central portion of the i frameand having a longitudinal open top cylin` drical socket in its upper end, a removable T type ntting normally mounted on said upper end of the standard and embodying an elongated horif5.. unit ydesigned 'toy support an lairplaneipropellerl andzcomprising-albase frame' withl a standardthereon, a tting' onthe upper endlofjthe standard including 1.a' cantilever part shaped'y to receive the propeller hub' and provided. at its inner endwith lan outwardly tapered `abutment forming member forieceiving theinner endfof tli'e propeller hub, and at'iits outer extremity with `a;ma1e screw thread,` and a nut mounted on the 10 screwz thread, and serving whentightened :While horizontal part and shapedtot slidablyrwithin f the socket, and a pin and notchlconnection be;- tween the'standard `andsaidvertical part ofthe -iitting lfor maintaining; the fitting when it is mounted on the standard in apositionwherein the horizontal part thereof` extends transversely of theframe. .y l n the propeller is in place on the cantilever-,type

part to clamp thefhubvgo'f. ,the propeller .against saidmember. .Y .4 Y. A v 'Y A. w .'EVERT C.'HOKVANSON; 

